by Stephanie Hoelscher, Child’s Garden Early Childhood teacher
Open up any social media site, and one will find images of the outdoor classrooms put up by schools as a response to the pandemic. Tents and pavilions, folding desks and movable chalkboards, whatever is required in order to bring an indoor academic curriculum outside.
Young children do not need such “outdoor classroom” for this purpose. The needs of a developing child before the start of formal academic learning are different. Indeed, the pandemic has brought this to the attention of early childhood educators in a potent way. Across the country teachers have been forced outdoors. This has brought a unique opportunity for reflection. What is truly essential? What is truly needed to nurture the growth and development of young children?
I teach at the Child’s Garden where I have for a good many years. (You may not know that what we now call the Orchard Valley Waldorf School began over twenty-five years ago at the Child’s Garden.) In the fall a big white tent greeted the children. This was our outdoor classroom. In practice, it served as a protective space for our morning wellness check and the children’s cubbies with extra gear. We now have a repurposed garage which serves the same purposes. While children and teachers need protection from the elements in extreme weather, these “outdoor classrooms” is not where the real learning takes place at the Child’s Garden. Blessed as we are with meadow, hillside, forest, and trails, and given the gifts of time, space, and social relationships, the children discover for themselves the ever-changing landscape for learning in the natural world.
